Signal for the deaf.



PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

A. EKBERG. SIGNAL FOR THE DEAF.

APPLICATION FILED SEP'IKS 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 775,079. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904. A. EKBERG.

SIGNAL FOR. THE DEAF.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 1903.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented November 15, 1904.

ALBERT EKBERG, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SIGNAL FOR THE DEAF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,079, dated November 15, 1904:.

Application filed September 5, 1903. Serial No. 172,051. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT EKBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signals for the Deaf; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient call device or alarm for the deaf; and to this end it consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claim.

Throughout this and other countries there are thousands of rooms, residences, and other buildings in which these persons live or work. For attracting the attention of deaf persons ordinary electric bells and other devices operating to produce sound are utterly useless. Hence in accordance with my invention I provide, in connection with an electric or other form of actuator or controller, a visual signal arranged to be vibrated thereby. This Visual signal may take various forms. As a means for supplying the power to vibrate the visual signal a spring-motor is advisably employed, which spring-motor is thrown into and out of action at will by an electricallycontrolled trip, the circuit of which is adapted to be closed, when the signal is to be given, by means of a push-button or switch located at the desired point distant from the signal and outside of the building within which the signal device proper is placed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the motor-case and the signal devices operated by said motor. Fig. 2 is a section taken approximately on the line of Fig. 1 and showing in diagram the electric circuit for controlling the motor-trip; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 1' m of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away.

The numeral 1 indicates a rectangular case which incloses the working parts of the motor and the principal parts of the electric trip. The motor-spring 2 is secured at one end to a winding-shaft 3, which is suitably mounted in the case 1 and at one end has a projecting angular key-shank to which a winding-key (not shown) may be applied to wind up the said spring. The other end of the motor-spring2 is attached to the outer portion of a relatively large motor-gear 4, that is loosely mounted on the shaft 3. The shaft 3 has secured to it a ratchet-wheel 5, that is engaged by the springpressed retaining-pawl 6, which is pivoted to the inner surface of one side of the case 1. This pawl 6 and the ratchet-wheel 5 hold the shaft 3 against backward movements under the tension of the spring 2, and thus afi'ord a base of reaction for the said spring, so that the latter will move the gear 1 in the direction indicated by the arrow marked in the vicinity thereof on Fig. 2.

The gear 4 meshes with a relatively small gear 7 ,which is suitably journaled in the case 1 and in a bar 8 of said case and is secured to rotate with a relatively large gear 9. The gear 9 meshes with a pinion 10, which is journaled on the bar 8 and secured to rotate with a crank-disk 11 and is provided with a crankpin 12. The pinion in turn meshes with a gear 13, which is journaled in one side of the case 1 and in the bar 8, and is secured to rotate with a stop-disk 14, having a single tooth 15. A trip pawl or dog 16, pivoted to the bar 8, engages at one end with the tooth 15 of the disk 14 and normally holds the entire train of gears stationary against the impelling strain of the motor-spring 2. The depending arm of the trip-pawl '16 carries an armature 17, and is normally held in an operative position by a light coiled spring 18, one end of which is anchored to a stud 19, that projects inwardly from one side of the case 1, and is shown in section in Fig. 2. A tripping-magnet is secured to and within the case 1 in a position for action on the armature 17 to trip the pawl 16 into an inoperative position, and thus release the train of gears. Numeral 21 indicates an electric circuit, which includes the said magnet 20, a battery 22, and a push-button switch or circuit-breaker 23.

The character 9 indicates a portion of the walls of a building, within which building the signal device proper is placed, and outside of which the push-button or circuit-closer is located.

The numeral 24: indicates a vibrating lever, which, as shown, is pivoted on the shaft 3,with its upper portion projecting upward through and working in a slot 25, formed in the top of the case 1. At its intermediate portion this lever 24 is provided with a longitudinal slot 26, which works the crank-pin 12 of the crankdisk 11. This slot 26 is of such length as to permit the free rotation of the crank-disk 11, under which movements, as is evident, the lever 24 will be vibrated, and the crank-pin 12 will move approximately from end to endof the said slot 26. The crank-pin 12 is preferably roller-equipped to reduce to a minimum the friction between the parts.

The projecting upper end of the vibrating lever 2 L is preferably in the form of a rod, which projects through a perforation 27 in a sliding rack-bar 28, held for straight-line reciprocations by keepers 29 on the top of the case 1. Incidentally this rack 28 keeps the slot 25 of the case 1 closed.

Pivoted on the top of the case 1 is a segmental gear 30, that meshes with the teeth of the rack 28, and is provided with a radiallyprojecting arm 31, preferably formed in two sections, with the outer section thereof telescoping into the inner section and removably secured thereto by set-screw 32. To the projecting free end of the vibrating arm 31 is attached a visual signal in the form of a ribbon, having long dangling ends 33.

The numeral 34: indicates a disk-like shutter or head, preferably perforated at the center and provided with a depending stem formed at its lower end with a socket 35, that telescopically fits over the stem of the vibrating lever 34 and is held thereon by a setscrew 36 or other suitable means. Th us shutter 34: by the vibrating lever 2A is adapted to be vibrated in front of a lamp 37 (shown only by dotted lines in Fig. l) and adapted to be supported in any suitable way. Also this lamp may be of any suitable constructionto wit, it may be either an oil-lamp, gas-lamp, or electric light.

The device is especially adapted to perform for the deaf what a door-bell performs for persons capable of hearing, butis, nevertheless, adapted for use in connection with telephones and other apparatus as a calldevice for attracting the attention of deaf persons where the person calling is without and the person to be called is within the building or similar inclosed structure, where direct visual communication cannot be had. 7

The same electric button or circuit-closer may be used to control at the same time both auditory signals and visual signals in cases where persons who can hear occupy the same room or building with deaf persons.

The ribbon 33 affords for the day-time a signal which when waved or vibrated will be very likely to attract attention; but as a signal device for use at night the lamp and vibrating shutter will produce a flickering of light which will attract attention from any point within a considerable distance of the same. In fact, this flickering of light will usually be sufficient to awaken a sleeping deaf person, for it is a well-known fact that the deaf become very sensitive to all unusual phenomena produced by light or jars.

From the foregoing description and statements made it will be understood that my invention is capable of a very large range of modification. The so-called visual signal, of which the ribbon is one form and the lamp and vibrating shutter another, may take a very great number of other different forms, since what is desired is something which will, when vibrated, operate upon the sense of sight to attract the attention of a person called or to whom a signal is sent from a distant point. The device will be found useful for a great many different purposes in the sending of signals of various kinds and for various purposes to deaf persons.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

The combination with a spring-motor and a rack arranged to be reciprocated thereby, of a pivoted arm having a toothed segment meshing with said rack, and provided at its free end with a visual signaling device, a detent, normally restraining said spring-motor, and a trip for saiddetent operative from a distant point, to release said detent and trip said motor into action at will, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT EKBERG.

WVitnesses: ELIZABETH H. KELIHER, F. D. MERCHANT. 

